Rebuttal Speech
Although our opponents’ plan appears like it would be successful, there are many flaws within it and their arguments against our plan are not valid. First of all, levees do work and have been proven to work. In addition, the tower with the electronic siren is a good idea but the actual construction of a tall slim tower would not be such a good idea given the circumstances in the Philippines. Also, underground piping would in fact get rid of the flood water like you said, but hinder the ability for plants to take root. Lastly, several lighthouses already exist on the Philippine islands so your idea is nothing new.
First, I would like to address your opposition to levees. The levees in hurricane Katrina failed. This is not because of the idea of levees itself. The levees broke because of design flaws and poor construction as reported by Greenwald and Glasser of the Washington Post. If one were to put levees in the Philippines without any errors, the levees would be able to withstand hurricanes without breaking, thus protecting the Filipinos. (Greenwald and Glasser). Levees have been known to more than pay for themselves when looking at the amount of money saved from their protection from damage. (“Levee Statistics show…). The Filipinos would benefit because their fields and homes would be defended from the hurricanes.
Secondly, the tower with the electronic siren is a good idea in spreading the word about approaching hurricanes. Despite of this, a large tower built in a hurricane and storm prone area is not such a good idea. Tall buildings are more likely to collapse when large forces hit them such as water or wind. For example, the world trade centers were larger slimmer towers. When the force of the planes hit them they collapsed fairly easily. (Musso, Christopher and…). This is because the weight of the upper part of the towers was not supported well by the base of the towers. Whereas if you had a building with a larger base, that was built specifically to resist the hurricanes, you would not have it collapse. So, even though the idea of the electronic siren is a good idea, the construction of a tall slim tower would not be beneficial.
My third point is underground piping to get rid of the excess water from fields would remove the water like my opponents mentioned. In spite of this, it will have a negative effect on plants. Plants’ main anchors are their roots. Roots hold plants where they need to be and keep them there. If you put piping in a field under the ground, it takes away from the amount of space the plant has to spread its roots. It is especially important in the Philippines where high winds occur during storms, to have plants with a firm grip in the ground thus preventing their uprooting. Trenches would be more successful in getting rid of water without affecting the prosperity of plants.
Lastly, like I mentioned earlier, the lighthouse idea was an excellent idea, but unfortunately it was already thought of. In fact currently lighthouses already exist in the Philippines. On top of that some were even built before the 1900’s. When the United States took over the Philippines, 60 lighthouses built by Spain already existed. Not all of these lighthouses survived to this day but several remain and are still used such as the Rio Pasig, the bajo de San Nicolas, and the siete pecados. (“Spanish Lighthouses of…). In addition, when the U.S. took over the Philippines, they built 183 more lighthouses between the time period of 1898 and 1933. Instead of your plan to build new lighthouses, what should be done is funding should be provided to the Philippine Coast Guard who already have developed a program called “Adopt a lighthouse.” This program exists in order to restore lighthouses that are already built. (“Philippines’ lights to…”) Why spend time building new lighthouses when you can just remodel the older lighthouses for a cheaper price? New lighthouses should not be built. Renovations should be made to the lighthouses that already exist.
In conclusion, levees would be a beneficial device used to block hurricanes. In addition, building a warning tower with an electronic siren is a good idea, but a tall tower would not be able to withstand the force of hurricanes. Also, underground piping would negatively affect the growth of plants. Finally, lighthouses have already been put in place therefore more are not needed. Instead, renovations should be made to the current lighthouses.
Closing summary
In concluding this debate we would like to outline the advantages of our plan. Our plan was designed specifically to not only provide the Filipinos an ease of mind for the time being but to provide them with a comfort in knowing their family is safe from storms in the future. The worries of storms will no longer flood the lives of the Filipinos both figuratively and literally. Tonight we will go home to a roof over our heads and a nice warm bed to sleep in. The Filipinos instead will lie awake on the ground with their only protection being a small roof. Many thoughts will cross their minds such as; will there be any storms to wash away our small huts once again? Will flooding destroy what little remains of our crops? And will the future of my children be destined to a life of constant worrying over the next battle against nature? If our plan is implemented, those Filipinos will sleep tonight knowing their children and huts are well protected.
Musso, Christopher, and Thomas W. Eager. "Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Science, Engineering, and Speculation." TMS. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2001. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/0112/eagar/eagar-0112.html>.
This is the story of a woman not much older than we are. Though she has a tougher life, and is in need of our help. She said, and I quote "We were about to rescue some of our friends In Timog area of Quezon City when we were being trapped by the flood way along the Philcoa area to Quezon City Circle. The water went up till I could walk no more. We decided to go back but there were no means of transportation but to walk. But on the way back home, cars were already driven away by the flood and people were screaming to be rescued. We were just lucky that our area was little higher so we could go home safe" Typhoons are one of the most dangerous storms out there. These devastating storms have left the Philippines a wreck. These storms are the worst they could ever be and the Philippines need our help to bring a solution. Since this country has a flooding problem, we have a climate adaptation plan that provides relief and rehabilitation to the Philippine islands.
We would like you to remember the four steps to the plan. The first step would be building levees. The second would be constructing trenches to redirect water from flooding specifically in crop fields. The third step would be placing buoys in the oceans. The final step is building stronger structures with better foundations. This plan would require money and supplies. The Philippine government is not currently stable enough nor do they have enough money to provide the necessities for this plan. Therefore, Annex 1 countries such as the United States and the European Union would be a vital part in administering the necessary supplies for the regeneration of the Philippine country. Because of the wealth and prosperity of industrialized countries, it is the responsibility and the duty of the citizens of these advanced countries to assist those who are less fortunate.
The first part of our plan, levees, would be very beneficial for protecting the Philippine island from hurricanes. Levees are defined by dictionary.com as “an embankment designed to prevent the flooding of a river.” The Philippines need these levees along rivers and shorelines. These levees would aid in the cessation of the water during the horrific storms and hurricanes. The levees would barricade the water when rivers’ and oceans’ water level rise. Levees can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 per linear foot. They also only take a couple of months to build. (“Cost Comparison”) This may seem like a lot of money, but if the wealthy industrialized countries such as America and the European Union would unite, we could help out our Philippine friends.
Second, trenches would significantly improve the poverty-stricken lives of the Filipinos. To be able to raise crops, the appropriate amount of water needs to be applied to a plant. In the case of the Philippine islands, too much water caused by flooding is halting the growth and opulence of crops thus creating a food deficit. When plants acquire too much water, it has a devastating affect on their production. (“Plant Distress Signals”) The excess water needs to be ousted from the fields and transported to a stream, lake, or other water source in order for plants to prosper, and the trenches would do just that. Trenches need to be utilized effectively in order to redirect the floodwater. The building of these trenches would be done to the plants in fields in this manner. First, the plants would be placed in rows. These rows would be elevated. Between the rows would be narrow trenches. When flooding occurs, the water would not remain beside the plants and deteriorate them. It would instead go into the trenches. The field would need to have a slight incline so that the water flows out of the trenches and is directed to another place like a local stream. Because the Philippines are mainly a farming country, trenches would have a huge impact on the amount of crops produced. The storms in the Philippines would no longer be as big as a threat to the lives of the Filipinos. This project would also be fairly inexpensive because the only thing that is required is equipment and workers that can move the soil to create these rows and trenches. If trenches were put in place, the Philippine island would no longer have as much floodwater just sitting in the fields.
The third step to the plan would be positioning buoys in the ocean that could monitor and transmit information to someone about how voluminous a hurricane is predicted to be. The person receiving this information can then warn people in this hapless situation of the approaching hurricane. The way in which this is used to warn the people would be different depending on what part of the islands were going to be affected. The warned people can then take the imperative precautions for preventing destruction thus reducing costs for reconstruction and lowering the amount of buildings the storm demolishes. Therefore, buoys would be an appropriate to protecting the Filipinos for future hurricanes.
Resistant buildings with better foundations are the last step to the rehabilitation plan for the Philippine islands. Most people in the Philippines reside in paltry huts. When storms materialize, these huts are washed away leaving many homeless and left to rebuild their houses. If stronger foundations and houses were built, the storms would not be capable of wiping away the huts. The foundation of a house is the most essential part of the house. The huts in the Philippines do not even have a foundation most times other than the dirty ground. (Building House Foundation…) The stronger buildings would be built of flood resistant materials such as concrete, brick, and metal. (Flood-Resistant Materials...). We realize that as great as it would be to provide every family in the Philippines with one of these flood resistant homes, it would not be feasible. However; it would be possible to build large community houses that have several families living together. These community houses would give Filipinos a refuge in the midst of the horrors of the storms. These refuge houses would contain one kitchen for the families to share but yet each family would be given their own space to sleep in for their privacy. The Philippine people would have an ease of mind when they no longer have to worry about their house being demolished in floodwaters. Once again, the wealthy countries of the world could provide this.
In conclusion, the Philippines need assistance and a plan. A plan that would efficiently lead the country to recovery includes just four steps. The first is the building of levees. The second is building irrigation systems. Placing buoys in the ocean is the third step. Finally, building stronger buildings with better foundations is the final step. If this plan is implemented, the Philippine island can begin reconstruction as well as be prepared for the storms of the future.
Final Focus
Travis Imboden
On our side of the debate we showed you how our plan is the best. Building levees to stop the flooding is the best thing you could do for these people. It doesn't cost much and it's safe. Also with our side we said we could build trenches so that if the water does flood over the levees, they could take the water and wash it into streams, rivers, or lakes. Buoys would be placed in the ocean so that when the tide picks up it can send a signal out and warn a tower to take shelter. The last part of our plan was to build houses with better foundations. We might need a little more money but it would be worth it. We could build them out of cement, brick, or stone. This is so the water doesn't knock them over and wash them away. It's up to you to make a change! I hope you were convinced today on what we should do.
"Fewer but More Intense Cyclones." IRIN Global| GLOBAL: Fewer but More Intense Cyclones| Asia East Africa Great Lakes Horn of Africa Latin America and Caribbean Middle East Southern Africa West Afric... Irin. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88415>.
Lawson, Don. The New Philippines. 2nd ed. New York: Franklin Watts, 1986. Print.
"Plant Distress Signals And Corrective Measures from Home Harvest Garden Supply." Gardening Supplies | Greenhouse, Nursery & Hydroponic Garden Supplies for Every Season at Home Harvest® Garden Supply. Superior Growers Supply, Inc, 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. http://homeharvest.com/plntdis.htm
The Filipinos need help, and the plan that has just been explained will never work. There are too many flaws. Instead, my partner and I have created a better plan. We will start by not building trenches. Anybody running around could easily run near them or even walk near them and fall. If they fall they could break their arms, legs, or even worse, they could die. If trash gets in the trench someone will have to go down there and get it out. While down there you can get many diseases. People that were in trenches have gotten diseases like trench foot from being down there too long (Trench foot.). Instead of building trenches we will build storm drains. Storm drains are a unique way of handling flooding. They were designed for places with lots of rain so they would work in the Philippines. The water goes down a grate, in a street, and into an under ground basin. Then the water goes into a medium tunnel. After going down the medium tunnel, the water goes into a large underground tunnel that leads to the ocean (Las Vegas SPPP...).
The next thing we are going to do is build a lighthouse. When there is a big storm coming, a person in the lighthouse will receive a phone call and they will turn on the light. This will help notify people living there that there is a big storm coming their way. Lighthouses have stood the test of time and have survived for many years so a little rain and some flooding will not harm them. They will be an easy way to solve the problems for many years. In the cities there will be lots of bell towers. The bell towers will do the same job as the lighthouse, but they will use noise to notify the people. They will always have someone in the tower ready to ring the bell if a storm is coming. The bell tower will be used to signal people that cannot see the lighthouse's light. It would be used for people living in the center of the city. People will ring the bells to tell people that a big storm is coming and to let them know that they need to prepare themselves for the storm.
The people in the lighthouse or in the bell tower will know to turn on the light in the light house and ring the bell in the bell tower when they receive a call from a weather station. This station will be located in the United States. They will monitor the weather and if any huge storms appear and start to head their way. They will contact the lighthouse workers and the bell ringers hours in advance so they know to sound off their alarms. The people working in the weather station will make sure to call awhile in advance so people will have enough time to react. There will be a specific team that watches the entire island in the Philippines to make sure no storms come close and no one knows about them. This specialized team will be more effective than buoys. If the waves are big enough then you will not see the light on the buoys. A lighthouse stands far above the waves so everyone can see it.
Unlike their plan, we will focus partly on what we can do if a storm hits them and it does flood since trying to prevent it has not worked yet. We will put up a few centers all around the island that will provide small boats that people can stay on. They will stay on the boat until someone can get there to help get them to a safe place to rest and eat until the flooding near their home goes down. On these boats there will be supplies that will help them survive. They will be able to travel without having to worry about drowning. The only way that they will need to use the boats is if the area floods. Small children will have a safe place to sit so they will not have to swim for hours before someone comes to help. The only thing they will have to do is get to one of the many buildings that will be located around the island that they are staying on.
On the larger islands there will be a ship in the docks. The ship will be big enough to hold every one on the island easily. The size of the ship will be determined by how many people live on the island. People will be able to get on the ship when a large storm is coming. If the people get on the ship before the storm hits, then they will easily be able to wait out the storm. If they are on the boat then no one will get hurt when the storm hits. Many people have survived on a boat while a hurricane hit, some ship are made special so they don't break when the hit hurricanes in the middle on the ocean. As I previously stated they would know about the storm when the lighthouse is lit or when the bell in the bell house is lit. If the people load on the ship before a big storm hits then they will be safe from the storm. There will be no reason if anyone dies from drowning since there will be ships for them to wait out the storm safely on.
As I have stated our plan would be more beneficial than the previously explained plan. Their trenches would never work; they are simply too dangerous. Instead of trenches we would construct storm drains. With our plan we would be able to warn them in advance by using lighthouses and bell towers. With our plan we would also be able to get the people to safety on a boat before a storm hits. Work Cited
"Las Vegas SWPPP for Drivers Sierra Ready Mix Las Vegas, Nevada." Ready Mix Las Vegas, NV. For All Your Ready Mix Needs. Welcome to Sierra Ready Mix Las Vegas, Nevada. Sierra Ready Mix, 1994-2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. http://www.sierrareadymix.com/swppp.htm.
"Trench Foot." Spartacus Educational - Home Page//. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWfoot.htm.
Tori Smith: Negative Speech
It has become evident that the Philippines are in a dire need of help. Between the incredible storms and mass amounts of flooding that hits this third world country annually, devastation is inevitable. A plan of action has been suggested to prevent these disasters from causing a mass amount of destruction; however, there are a few flaws that need to be pointed out. One being the fact that the plan is focusing more on how to prevent destruction. In theory, this is ideal, but it has been proven time and time again that destruction from weather is essentially uncontrollable. Also, the plan suggests using the Annex I countries to pay for the adaptations such as levees, better foundations, etc. It would be more efficient to raise the money through the people. Also, levees were a suggested method of prevention, but it has failed many times and left huge societies left to clean up and move on from huge disasters; such an example being New Orleans. Our plan is focused more on the rescue and aftermath of a storm; but has more ethical, more practical ideas for the prevention of disasters. Here are a few points I want you to remember.
First off, as I said before, levees was an idea mentioned by the affirmative side. However, levees have been proven to fail various times. The most recent time was when levees failed and did not protect New Orleans from the gulf coast ("New Orleans Levees..."). The point is levees fail, and with no warning or "plan B", so to say, one severe storm could over power said levees and the Filipinos are back at square one, not to mention the billions and billions of dollars it would cost in order to build levees around every entire island.
Secondly, since 1980, over 30,000 people were killed in the Philippines as a result of severe storms and lack of help afterwards ("Disaster Statistics-Philippines..."). Stranded people often drown or die from starvation or thirst when waiting to be rescued or waiting for water levels to subside. No plan is really in place to help these people. We believe they should have places for the people to reside in a week in advance, such as buildings or ships placed nearby every major city and town. They would amount to about 40 or 50 ships and centers altogether and would provide food and supplies for survival. With these facilities in place, thousands of lives could be saved. What makes this such a convienient plan is that there are many unused cruise liners for sale even today that makes the idea of these storm ships being available a very good possibility. ("Wanted-Home for...). The cost has been vaguely mentioned; being stated that it was simply "affordable". But compared to how much it would cost to build new ships, it is undeniable there would be a huge cost difference.
Next, as a way to create awareness to the Filipino people, towers that signal there is a potentially devastating storm approaching, much like a tornado signaling tower should be put into place. It would signal the people days in advanced to flee to the ships mentioned early, evacuate the area, go to the storm buildings nearest to their town, or at least prepare as much as possible.
Fourthly, the other problem that also must be addressed is the method of payment, which the opposing side has previously suggested. They have mentioned using government money from Annex I countries. But what they have neglected to consider is the fact the United States is currently considered to be in an economic recession and has a national debt of a whopping $12 trillion (U.S. Debt Clock.). Currently, America is not contributing to the Philippines except for what mission work is being done. And honestly, it would simply not make sense to continue to plunge America into a greater debt. In order for the government to pay for plans in the Philippines, the government would have to take the money from the people through taxes or other forms of, in a sense, forced payment and not everyone can right now. It would just create resentment towards the U.S. government, which given the circumstances we are currently in, is the last thing we need.
Raising the money through various organizations and groups would have a lesser impact on the economy. It would get more willing helpers and sponsors. This method has been proven to work various times. In one year, over 300 billions dollars was given to charities in the United States alone (“Giving Statistics"). Given a few years, Americans could raise enough money to start the building of the centers, ships, and the installment of the storm drains previously mentioned in the Philippines.
In conclusion, we need to not only be focusing on how to prevent disastrous storms from devastating the Philippines, but also focus more on what to do once one has hit. Signal the people when a potentially lethal storm is coming so they actually have time to escape as well as places to go once the storm has hit. Have places for the people to go when a storm has hit; a place that has stored food and supplies that was protected from flood waters. Also, figure out a better payment plan besides using government money. It is impractical. It would be much easier to get people to willingly give the money and is just as efficient. It cannot be stressed enough how dire the situation in the Philippines is and we have the power to make it better.
Tori Smith: Final Focus Speech
In the end, my partner and I want to leave you with three main points to remember. First off, the Philippines needs a better "Plan B". The people need a place to go once a devastating storm has hit that can keep them alive as long as need be. The second point is having better, more affordable ways to prevent devastation. For one, instead of building levees that have proven to fail various times, put in a draining system that is similar to ones put in place in our cities and towns. Also, consider placing storm centers and ships near every major city and town. The people would be notified of a storm by signaling towers and would then evacuate to these ships or centers days in advance, giving the storm time to pass and giving the people a chance of survival. Lastly, consider a better method of payment then using government money. Try collecting the money through the people, which has proven to be just as efficient. Again, we have the power to make the Philippines a better place to live; we just have to take the initiative.
Emily Harpold
Affirmative Speech 2
Rebuttal SpeechAlthough our opponents’ plan appears like it would be successful, there are many flaws within it and their arguments against our plan are not valid. First of all, levees do work and have been proven to work. In addition, the tower with the electronic siren is a good idea but the actual construction of a tall slim tower would not be such a good idea given the circumstances in the Philippines. Also, underground piping would in fact get rid of the flood water like you said, but hinder the ability for plants to take root. Lastly, several lighthouses already exist on the Philippine islands so your idea is nothing new.
First, I would like to address your opposition to levees. The levees in hurricane Katrina failed. This is not because of the idea of levees itself. The levees broke because of design flaws and poor construction as reported by Greenwald and Glasser of the Washington Post. If one were to put levees in the Philippines without any errors, the levees would be able to withstand hurricanes without breaking, thus protecting the Filipinos. (Greenwald and Glasser). Levees have been known to more than pay for themselves when looking at the amount of money saved from their protection from damage. (“Levee Statistics show…). The Filipinos would benefit because their fields and homes would be defended from the hurricanes.
Secondly, the tower with the electronic siren is a good idea in spreading the word about approaching hurricanes. Despite of this, a large tower built in a hurricane and storm prone area is not such a good idea. Tall buildings are more likely to collapse when large forces hit them such as water or wind. For example, the world trade centers were larger slimmer towers. When the force of the planes hit them they collapsed fairly easily. (Musso, Christopher and…). This is because the weight of the upper part of the towers was not supported well by the base of the towers. Whereas if you had a building with a larger base, that was built specifically to resist the hurricanes, you would not have it collapse. So, even though the idea of the electronic siren is a good idea, the construction of a tall slim tower would not be beneficial.
My third point is underground piping to get rid of the excess water from fields would remove the water like my opponents mentioned. In spite of this, it will have a negative effect on plants. Plants’ main anchors are their roots. Roots hold plants where they need to be and keep them there. If you put piping in a field under the ground, it takes away from the amount of space the plant has to spread its roots. It is especially important in the Philippines where high winds occur during storms, to have plants with a firm grip in the ground thus preventing their uprooting. Trenches would be more successful in getting rid of water without affecting the prosperity of plants.
Lastly, like I mentioned earlier, the lighthouse idea was an excellent idea, but unfortunately it was already thought of. In fact currently lighthouses already exist in the Philippines. On top of that some were even built before the 1900’s. When the United States took over the Philippines, 60 lighthouses built by Spain already existed. Not all of these lighthouses survived to this day but several remain and are still used such as the Rio Pasig, the bajo de San Nicolas, and the siete pecados. (“Spanish Lighthouses of…). In addition, when the U.S. took over the Philippines, they built 183 more lighthouses between the time period of 1898 and 1933. Instead of your plan to build new lighthouses, what should be done is funding should be provided to the Philippine Coast Guard who already have developed a program called “Adopt a lighthouse.” This program exists in order to restore lighthouses that are already built. (“Philippines’ lights to…”) Why spend time building new lighthouses when you can just remodel the older lighthouses for a cheaper price? New lighthouses should not be built. Renovations should be made to the lighthouses that already exist.
In conclusion, levees would be a beneficial device used to block hurricanes. In addition, building a warning tower with an electronic siren is a good idea, but a tall tower would not be able to withstand the force of hurricanes. Also, underground piping would negatively affect the growth of plants. Finally, lighthouses have already been put in place therefore more are not needed. Instead, renovations should be made to the current lighthouses.
Closing summary
In concluding this debate we would like to outline the advantages of our plan. Our plan was designed specifically to not only provide the Filipinos an ease of mind for the time being but to provide them with a comfort in knowing their family is safe from storms in the future. The worries of storms will no longer flood the lives of the Filipinos both figuratively and literally. Tonight we will go home to a roof over our heads and a nice warm bed to sleep in. The Filipinos instead will lie awake on the ground with their only protection being a small roof. Many thoughts will cross their minds such as; will there be any storms to wash away our small huts once again? Will flooding destroy what little remains of our crops? And will the future of my children be destined to a life of constant worrying over the next battle against nature? If our plan is implemented, those Filipinos will sleep tonight knowing their children and huts are well protected.
Work Cited
"Cost Comparison." Strong Levees. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. <http://www.stronglevees.com/cost/>
Grunwald, Michael, and Susan B. Glasser. "Experts Say Faulty Levees Caused Much of Flooding - Washingtonpost.com." Washingtonpost.com - Nation, World, Technology and Washington Area News and Headlines. The Washington Post Company, 21 Sept. 2005. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001894.html>.
"Levee Statistics Show Their Importance to U.S. Economy." Homeland Security News Wire. News Wire Publications, 5 Jan. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/levee-statistics-show-their-importance-us-economy
Musso, Christopher, and Thomas W. Eager. "Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Science, Engineering, and Speculation." TMS. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2001. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/0112/eagar/eagar-0112.html>.
"Philippines' Light to Get Makeover." Lighthouse Depot. Lighthouse Digest Inc., 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_digest.asp?action=get_article&sk=2170&bhcd2=1271897915>.
"Spanish Lighthouses of the Philippines." The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Russ Rowlett, 2 Jan. 2008. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/phl-esp.htm>.
Travis Imboden
Affirmative Introduction Speech
This is the story of a woman not much older than we are. Though she has a tougher life, and is in need of our help. She said, and I quote "We were about to rescue some of our friends In Timog area of Quezon City when we were being trapped by the flood way along the Philcoa area to Quezon City Circle. The water went up till I could walk no more. We decided to go back but there were no means of transportation but to walk. But on the way back home, cars were already driven away by the flood and people were screaming to be rescued. We were just lucky that our area was little higher so we could go home safe" Typhoons are one of the most dangerous storms out there. These devastating storms have left the Philippines a wreck. These storms are the worst they could ever be and the Philippines need our help to bring a solution. Since this country has a flooding problem, we have a climate adaptation plan that provides relief and rehabilitation to the Philippine islands.
We would like you to remember the four steps to the plan. The first step would be building levees. The second would be constructing trenches to redirect water from flooding specifically in crop fields. The third step would be placing buoys in the oceans. The final step is building stronger structures with better foundations. This plan would require money and supplies. The Philippine government is not currently stable enough nor do they have enough money to provide the necessities for this plan. Therefore, Annex 1 countries such as the United States and the European Union would be a vital part in administering the necessary supplies for the regeneration of the Philippine country. Because of the wealth and prosperity of industrialized countries, it is the responsibility and the duty of the citizens of these advanced countries to assist those who are less fortunate.
The first part of our plan, levees, would be very beneficial for protecting the Philippine island from hurricanes. Levees are defined by dictionary.com as “an embankment designed to prevent the flooding of a river.” The Philippines need these levees along rivers and shorelines. These levees would aid in the cessation of the water during the horrific storms and hurricanes. The levees would barricade the water when rivers’ and oceans’ water level rise. Levees can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 per linear foot. They also only take a couple of months to build. (“Cost Comparison”) This may seem like a lot of money, but if the wealthy industrialized countries such as America and the European Union would unite, we could help out our Philippine friends.
Second, trenches would significantly improve the poverty-stricken lives of the Filipinos. To be able to raise crops, the appropriate amount of water needs to be applied to a plant. In the case of the Philippine islands, too much water caused by flooding is halting the growth and opulence of crops thus creating a food deficit. When plants acquire too much water, it has a devastating affect on their production. (“Plant Distress Signals”) The excess water needs to be ousted from the fields and transported to a stream, lake, or other water source in order for plants to prosper, and the trenches would do just that. Trenches need to be utilized effectively in order to redirect the floodwater. The building of these trenches would be done to the plants in fields in this manner. First, the plants would be placed in rows. These rows would be elevated. Between the rows would be narrow trenches. When flooding occurs, the water would not remain beside the plants and deteriorate them. It would instead go into the trenches. The field would need to have a slight incline so that the water flows out of the trenches and is directed to another place like a local stream. Because the Philippines are mainly a farming country, trenches would have a huge impact on the amount of crops produced. The storms in the Philippines would no longer be as big as a threat to the lives of the Filipinos. This project would also be fairly inexpensive because the only thing that is required is equipment and workers that can move the soil to create these rows and trenches. If trenches were put in place, the Philippine island would no longer have as much floodwater just sitting in the fields.
The third step to the plan would be positioning buoys in the ocean that could monitor and transmit information to someone about how voluminous a hurricane is predicted to be. The person receiving this information can then warn people in this hapless situation of the approaching hurricane. The way in which this is used to warn the people would be different depending on what part of the islands were going to be affected. The warned people can then take the imperative precautions for preventing destruction thus reducing costs for reconstruction and lowering the amount of buildings the storm demolishes. Therefore, buoys would be an appropriate to protecting the Filipinos for future hurricanes.
Resistant buildings with better foundations are the last step to the rehabilitation plan for the Philippine islands. Most people in the Philippines reside in paltry huts. When storms materialize, these huts are washed away leaving many homeless and left to rebuild their houses. If stronger foundations and houses were built, the storms would not be capable of wiping away the huts. The foundation of a house is the most essential part of the house. The huts in the Philippines do not even have a foundation most times other than the dirty ground. (Building House Foundation…) The stronger buildings would be built of flood resistant materials such as concrete, brick, and metal. (Flood-Resistant Materials...). We realize that as great as it would be to provide every family in the Philippines with one of these flood resistant homes, it would not be feasible. However; it would be possible to build large community houses that have several families living together. These community houses would give Filipinos a refuge in the midst of the horrors of the storms. These refuge houses would contain one kitchen for the families to share but yet each family would be given their own space to sleep in for their privacy. The Philippine people would have an ease of mind when they no longer have to worry about their house being demolished in floodwaters. Once again, the wealthy countries of the world could provide this.
In conclusion, the Philippines need assistance and a plan. A plan that would efficiently lead the country to recovery includes just four steps. The first is the building of levees. The second is building irrigation systems. Placing buoys in the ocean is the third step. Finally, building stronger buildings with better foundations is the final step. If this plan is implemented, the Philippine island can begin reconstruction as well as be prepared for the storms of the future.
Final Focus
Travis Imboden
On our side of the debate we showed you how our plan is the best. Building levees to stop the flooding is the best thing you could do for these people. It doesn't cost much and it's safe. Also with our side we said we could build trenches so that if the water does flood over the levees, they could take the water and wash it into streams, rivers, or lakes. Buoys would be placed in the ocean so that when the tide picks up it can send a signal out and warn a tower to take shelter. The last part of our plan was to build houses with better foundations. We might need a little more money but it would be worth it. We could build them out of cement, brick, or stone. This is so the water doesn't knock them over and wash them away. It's up to you to make a change! I hope you were convinced today on what we should do.
Work Cited
Armstrong, Shari. "How Does Water Affect Plant Growth." Gardening Know How - Gardening Is Easy! Let Us Show You How. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. <http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/children-in-the-garden/how-does-water-affect-plant-growth.htm>
Bankoff, Greg. "In The Eye Of The Storm." Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Feb. 2004. Print.
"Building House Foundation-Concrete Foundation-House Foundation." Indobase - Events, Recipes, Mutual Funds, Study Abroad, India Yellow Pages, India Hotel Reservation. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. <http://www.indobase.com/home/building-a-home/footings-foundations.html>.
"Fewer but More Intense Cyclones." IRIN Global| GLOBAL: Fewer but More Intense Cyclones| Asia East Africa Great Lakes Horn of Africa Latin America and Caribbean Middle East Southern Africa West Afric... Irin. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88415>.
Lawson, Don. The New Philippines. 2nd ed. New York: Franklin Watts, 1986. Print.
"Levee Statistics Show Their Importance to U.S. Economy." Homeland Security News Wire. News Wire Publications, 5 Jan. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/levee-statistics-show-their-importance-us-economy
Nguyen, Katie. "Reuters AlertNet - Typhoon-hit Philippines: Could More Have Been Done?" Reuters AlertNet - Homepage. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/57964/2009/08/29-155021-1.htm>.
"Plant Distress Signals And Corrective Measures from Home Harvest Garden Supply." Gardening Supplies | Greenhouse, Nursery & Hydroponic Garden Supplies for Every Season at Home Harvest® Garden Supply. Superior Growers Supply, Inc, 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. http://homeharvest.com/plntdis.htm
"US Aid." Http:www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/countries/philippines/template/fs_sr/fy2010/philippines_sf_fs05-10-13-2009.pdf. US Aid, 9 Oct. 2009. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/countries/philippines/template/fs_sr/fy2010/philippines_sf_fs05-10-13-2009.pdf>.
The Philippines. Dec. 2002. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. <http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/climate2.htm>.
"Philippines Volcano Eruption Likely Soon - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. <http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/20/philippines.volcano/index.html>.
Nicole-negative speech 1
The Filipinos need help, and the plan that has just been explained will never work. There are too many flaws. Instead, my partner and I have created a better plan. We will start by not building trenches. Anybody running around could easily run near them or even walk near them and fall. If they fall they could break their arms, legs, or even worse, they could die. If trash gets in the trench someone will have to go down there and get it out. While down there you can get many diseases. People that were in trenches have gotten diseases like trench foot from being down there too long (Trench foot.). Instead of building trenches we will build storm drains. Storm drains are a unique way of handling flooding. They were designed for places with lots of rain so they would work in the Philippines. The water goes down a grate, in a street, and into an under ground basin. Then the water goes into a medium tunnel. After going down the medium tunnel, the water goes into a large underground tunnel that leads to the ocean (Las Vegas SPPP...).
The next thing we are going to do is build a lighthouse. When there is a big storm coming, a person in the lighthouse will receive a phone call and they will turn on the light. This will help notify people living there that there is a big storm coming their way. Lighthouses have stood the test of time and have survived for many years so a little rain and some flooding will not harm them. They will be an easy way to solve the problems for many years. In the cities there will be lots of bell towers. The bell towers will do the same job as the lighthouse, but they will use noise to notify the people. They will always have someone in the tower ready to ring the bell if a storm is coming. The bell tower will be used to signal people that cannot see the lighthouse's light. It would be used for people living in the center of the city. People will ring the bells to tell people that a big storm is coming and to let them know that they need to prepare themselves for the storm.
The people in the lighthouse or in the bell tower will know to turn on the light in the light house and ring the bell in the bell tower when they receive a call from a weather station. This station will be located in the United States. They will monitor the weather and if any huge storms appear and start to head their way. They will contact the lighthouse workers and the bell ringers hours in advance so they know to sound off their alarms. The people working in the weather station will make sure to call awhile in advance so people will have enough time to react. There will be a specific team that watches the entire island in the Philippines to make sure no storms come close and no one knows about them. This specialized team will be more effective than buoys. If the waves are big enough then you will not see the light on the buoys. A lighthouse stands far above the waves so everyone can see it.
Unlike their plan, we will focus partly on what we can do if a storm hits them and it does flood since trying to prevent it has not worked yet. We will put up a few centers all around the island that will provide small boats that people can stay on. They will stay on the boat until someone can get there to help get them to a safe place to rest and eat until the flooding near their home goes down. On these boats there will be supplies that will help them survive. They will be able to travel without having to worry about drowning. The only way that they will need to use the boats is if the area floods. Small children will have a safe place to sit so they will not have to swim for hours before someone comes to help. The only thing they will have to do is get to one of the many buildings that will be located around the island that they are staying on.
On the larger islands there will be a ship in the docks. The ship will be big enough to hold every one on the island easily. The size of the ship will be determined by how many people live on the island. People will be able to get on the ship when a large storm is coming. If the people get on the ship before the storm hits, then they will easily be able to wait out the storm. If they are on the boat then no one will get hurt when the storm hits. Many people have survived on a boat while a hurricane hit, some ship are made special so they don't break when the hit hurricanes in the middle on the ocean. As I previously stated they would know about the storm when the lighthouse is lit or when the bell in the bell house is lit. If the people load on the ship before a big storm hits then they will be safe from the storm. There will be no reason if anyone dies from drowning since there will be ships for them to wait out the storm safely on.
As I have stated our plan would be more beneficial than the previously explained plan. Their trenches would never work; they are simply too dangerous. Instead of trenches we would construct storm drains. With our plan we would be able to warn them in advance by using lighthouses and bell towers. With our plan we would also be able to get the people to safety on a boat before a storm hits.
Work Cited
"Las Vegas SWPPP for Drivers Sierra Ready Mix Las Vegas, Nevada." Ready Mix Las Vegas, NV. For All Your Ready Mix Needs. Welcome to Sierra Ready Mix Las Vegas, Nevada. Sierra Ready Mix, 1994-2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. http://www.sierrareadymix.com/swppp.htm.
"Trench Foot." Spartacus Educational - Home Page//. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWfoot.htm.
Tori Smith: Negative Speech
It has become evident that the Philippines are in a dire need of help. Between the incredible storms and mass amounts of flooding that hits this third world country annually, devastation is inevitable. A plan of action has been suggested to prevent these disasters from causing a mass amount of destruction; however, there are a few flaws that need to be pointed out. One being the fact that the plan is focusing more on how to prevent destruction. In theory, this is ideal, but it has been proven time and time again that destruction from weather is essentially uncontrollable. Also, the plan suggests using the Annex I countries to pay for the adaptations such as levees, better foundations, etc. It would be more efficient to raise the money through the people. Also, levees were a suggested method of prevention, but it has failed many times and left huge societies left to clean up and move on from huge disasters; such an example being New Orleans. Our plan is focused more on the rescue and aftermath of a storm; but has more ethical, more practical ideas for the prevention of disasters. Here are a few points I want you to remember.First off, as I said before, levees was an idea mentioned by the affirmative side. However, levees have been proven to fail various times. The most recent time was when levees failed and did not protect New Orleans from the gulf coast ("New Orleans Levees..."). The point is levees fail, and with no warning or "plan B", so to say, one severe storm could over power said levees and the Filipinos are back at square one, not to mention the billions and billions of dollars it would cost in order to build levees around every entire island.
Secondly, since 1980, over 30,000 people were killed in the Philippines as a result of severe storms and lack of help afterwards ("Disaster Statistics-Philippines..."). Stranded people often drown or die from starvation or thirst when waiting to be rescued or waiting for water levels to subside. No plan is really in place to help these people. We believe they should have places for the people to reside in a week in advance, such as buildings or ships placed nearby every major city and town. They would amount to about 40 or 50 ships and centers altogether and would provide food and supplies for survival. With these facilities in place, thousands of lives could be saved. What makes this such a convienient plan is that there are many unused cruise liners for sale even today that makes the idea of these storm ships being available a very good possibility. ("Wanted-Home for...). The cost has been vaguely mentioned; being stated that it was simply "affordable". But compared to how much it would cost to build new ships, it is undeniable there would be a huge cost difference.
Next, as a way to create awareness to the Filipino people, towers that signal there is a potentially devastating storm approaching, much like a tornado signaling tower should be put into place. It would signal the people days in advanced to flee to the ships mentioned early, evacuate the area, go to the storm buildings nearest to their town, or at least prepare as much as possible.
Fourthly, the other problem that also must be addressed is the method of payment, which the opposing side has previously suggested. They have mentioned using government money from Annex I countries. But what they have neglected to consider is the fact the United States is currently considered to be in an economic recession and has a national debt of a whopping $12 trillion (U.S. Debt Clock.). Currently, America is not contributing to the Philippines except for what mission work is being done. And honestly, it would simply not make sense to continue to plunge America into a greater debt. In order for the government to pay for plans in the Philippines, the government would have to take the money from the people through taxes or other forms of, in a sense, forced payment and not everyone can right now. It would just create resentment towards the U.S. government, which given the circumstances we are currently in, is the last thing we need.
Raising the money through various organizations and groups would have a lesser impact on the economy. It would get more willing helpers and sponsors. This method has been proven to work various times. In one year, over 300 billions dollars was given to charities in the United States alone (“Giving Statistics"). Given a few years, Americans could raise enough money to start the building of the centers, ships, and the installment of the storm drains previously mentioned in the Philippines.
In conclusion, we need to not only be focusing on how to prevent disastrous storms from devastating the Philippines, but also focus more on what to do once one has hit. Signal the people when a potentially lethal storm is coming so they actually have time to escape as well as places to go once the storm has hit. Have places for the people to go when a storm has hit; a place that has stored food and supplies that was protected from flood waters. Also, figure out a better payment plan besides using government money. It is impractical. It would be much easier to get people to willingly give the money and is just as efficient. It cannot be stressed enough how dire the situation in the Philippines is and we have the power to make it better.
Tori Smith: Final Focus Speech
In the end, my partner and I want to leave you with three main points to remember. First off, the Philippines needs a better "Plan B". The people need a place to go once a devastating storm has hit that can keep them alive as long as need be. The second point is having better, more affordable ways to prevent devastation. For one, instead of building levees that have proven to fail various times, put in a draining system that is similar to ones put in place in our cities and towns. Also, consider placing storm centers and ships near every major city and town. The people would be notified of a storm by signaling towers and would then evacuate to these ships or centers days in advance, giving the storm time to pass and giving the people a chance of survival. Lastly, consider a better method of payment then using government money. Try collecting the money through the people, which has proven to be just as efficient. Again, we have the power to make the Philippines a better place to live; we just have to take the initiative.